Tuesday, June 15, 1999

Mets thrive despite adversity

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Piazza finds humor in antics of manager, Bonilla

BY SAM MELLINGER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

New York's Bobby Bonilla gets ready to take batting practice as manager Bobby Valentine, far right, watches over the players on the field. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        It's hard to surprise Mike Piazza. Take last week:

        • Three New York Met coaches received pink slips.

        • Manager Bobby Valentine put on a disguise and returned to the dugout after being ejected from a game, drawing a fine and a two-game suspension.

        • Disgruntled slugger Bobby Bonilla, after being temporarily benched, re fused to pinch hit, leading to published reports that the Mets wanted to get rid of the outfielder, his atti tude and his $5.9 million salary.

        The drama even followed the Mets to Cincinnati. Before Monday's game, catcher Todd Pratt joined the two Bobbys on the list of Mets to wage verbal war with a club beat writer. After the exchange, Bonilla walked by a group of reporters and mutterred, “what a great place we have here.”

        Oh, and during this soap opera, the Mets somehow managed to shed an eight-game losing streak, winning six of their last eight.

        Still, it's not enough to shock Piazza, the six-time All-Star who joined the Mets in a trade last May and decided to stay, signing a seven-year, $91 million contract in the offseason.

        “It's so funny,” he said, leaning back in his locker and cracking a smile before Monday's game, “nothing really surprises me anymore, especially around here. It just kind of passes right over me, I just kind of laugh about it.”

        Valentine doesn't find humor in the situation. During the turmoil last week, he took responsibility for the club underachieving, saying that if the team's record did not improve soon that he “shouldn't be manager anymore.”

        In a 20-minute pregame interview, Valentine dodged questions about the off-field unrest, saying, “It's been a great week. We've won six out of seven.”

        Valentine is appealing the suspension, and expects to meet with National League President Len Coleman this week, possibly today.

        The suspension came after Valentine was ejected in the 12th inning of a game Wednesday. Valentine returned from the clubhouse with eye black on his upper lip, sunglasses and a hat. He said then he did it to lighten the team's mood, but wouldn't discuss it Monday.

        “I told Len I would not discuss the suspension,” Valentine said. “And I haven't.”

        Valentine started Bonilla at first base Monday, giving John Olerud the night off. It was Bonilla's first action since pinch-hitting Friday, and his first start since June 6.

        Valentine said any conflict with Bonilla is in the past.

        “I don't see that we have any problems,” he said.

        It would be understandable if the team lost focus, but the Mets play in New York City, where distractions come and go like subway trains.

        “It's something we thrive on,” Piazza said. “Maybe it's healthy to a certain point. For us, it was good, we were in a little bit of a rut, so when things started occuring we were able to get back on track and play better baseball. It keeps things interesting.”

        While managers often stand in the tunnel between the dugout and clubhouse after being ejected, Piazza said it was the first time he could remember one donning a fake mustache.

        “I've never seen disguises,” he said. “Tommy (Lasorda, former LA manager) used to creep up in the tunnel and depending on what part of his diet he was in, he'd have either one, two or three guys standing in front of him so you couldn't see him. As long as they're not caught nobody says anything.”

       

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